Archive · 6 Aug 2026
North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile toward East Sea
North Korea is a country next to South Korea.
On Thursday, North Korea shot a fast rocket called a ballistic missile.
The missile flew toward the sea, and South Korea's army spotted it.
South Korea said North Korea should stop doing this.
North Korea has been testing weapons a lot lately.
About a month ago, on June 25, it tested other weapons too.
South Korea and the United States are planning a big practice exercise soon.
So South Korea is watching closely to stay safe.
It is also telling its friends the United States and Japan what is happening.
This helps everyone work together to keep peace.
North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said.
The missile was launched from the Wonsan area on the North's eastern coast at around 5 pm local time.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it is maintaining full readiness and closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
The launch came over a month after North Korea's June 25 weapons test, overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, and ahead of the South Korea-US Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.
South Korea's presidential national security office called the launch a provocation violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.
- Who
- North Korea, whose June 25 weapons test was overseen by leader Kim Jong-un; South Korea's military and presidential national security office responded.
- What
- Fired at least one short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea.
- When
- Thursday, at around 5 pm local time, more than a month after the June 25 test.
- Where
- From the Wonsan area on North Korea's eastern coast, toward the East Sea.
- Why
- The launch followed a June 25 test tied to the 76th anniversary of the Korean War outbreak and came ahead of the South Korea-US Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise; South Korea called it a provocation violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.
- Missile type
- Short-range ballistic missile (at least one fired)
- Launch area
- Wonsan, on North Korea's eastern coast
- Launch time
- Around 5 pm local time on Thursday
- Previous weapons test
- June 25: tactical ballistic missile, new multiple rocket launchers and other weapons
- Upcoming military drill
- Ulchi Freedom Shield, annual South Korea-US summertime exercise expected later this month
- Military posture
- South Korean military in full readiness; information shared with the US and Japan
- South Korea's assessment
- Provocation violating United Nations Security Council resolutions